Your Creative Input for Trauma Education Video

[upstream]

Recent events in my life have prompted me to begin making an educational video about secondary wounding, hoping that the people who watch this video will do less harm to trauma survivors.

I have posted the script here:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dtd9bvb_0hsfcmfhf

And the corresponding diagrams here:
http://docs.google.com/Present?docid=dtd9bvb_1fvb9q625&skipauth=true

Problem is, I have writers block. If anyone has any ideas for material (perhaps your own experience?), especially after frame 11, it would be appreciated. Also feel free to critique the script.

 

[linasmom]

Hey Up,

Something like this is totally up my alley, except I don't know enough about healing and PTSD in order to help with the factual aspect of the script.

I do have one question for you - who is your audience? People who have PTSD? Family members of those with PTSD? Children in school?

I found the narrative to be slightly flat, even for an educational video. I know the goal is to simplify things for an audience that I'm assuming knows very little about secondary wounding, but you can add a bit of back-story to help make the process of watching an educational video not so torturous. Now, if you need help with THAT, I can assist. :smile: Just let me know via PM.

Best,
Rachel

 

[upstream]

I do have one question for you - who is your audience? People who have PTSD? Family members of those with PTSD? Children in school?

Family members, friends, and people who will be working with trauma and abuse survivors.

If there's a way to make it more interesting and memorable without losing the educational aspect I'm all for it.

 

[Seeking_Nirvana]

Frame 12

*I'm sorry that happened to you Julie.
*Even though I don't understand what you are going through I will be here for you and listen with my heart.
*I can't imagine the pain you must be feeling.
*We can work on this together.
*You are not alone there are others that have suffered similar situations.

Visual:
Julie is shaking hands with her new therapist.
Julie is in a PTSD group to discuss issues with her peers.
Julie is hugging a friend.

 

[Seeking_Nirvana]

Fame 13
Julie has agoraphobia
Julie has stomach pain
Julie has headaches
Julie has nightmares

Visual:
Julie is in her home peeking out of the curtains in a suspicious manner
Julie is holding her stomach
Julie goes to the doctor and gets medication
Julie is in bed sitting up with a look of terror on her face

 

[upstream]

Tammy does your family actually say those nice things to you? ...cause I've never heard them. Wow my family sucks... no wonder I had writers block.

 

[hjpalm]

Wow...secondary trauma....so that's real too. I thought that I was just taking things too hard or whatever. But it's not is it. When you go to a doctor or talk to someone and they don't think about what they are saying to you, it always felt like another betrayal. And that just stacked up with all the rest.

 

[Seeking_Nirvana]

Hi upstream,
LMAO no one ever says that to me except in my dream groups. That is where I learned all the nice things in life and healed a ton. My earlier years before age 30 was so dysfunctional I'm surprised I know the difference.

My husband is exceptionally nice but is very quiet. He doesn't have to say anything and I know that he feels those nice thoughts toward me. It's implied.

Peace
Tammy

 

[upstream]

Thanks Tammy :smile:

 

[upstream]

OK Tammy's suggestions look near perfect and Rachel has some excellent feedback.

I was thinking about what Rachel said, and I think this would resonate more with people if it were told in a first person perspective rather than a 3rd person perspective... like a Sex and the City type thing where she narrates her story then writes about her feelings. (yes, I am a man and I freely admit to having seen more than one episode of sex and the city).

I don't think it would be too hard to find someone to do the voice acting and someone to do the drawings for a storyboard type thing. Live action would be expensive though and I would need to recruit volunteer actors... though I bet that wouldn't be too difficult at the local university :think:

Anyway, love the ideas... keep them coming and maybe we'll have something worth producing :smile:

 

[linasmom]

Up,

I think you're heading in the right direction by switching to a first person narrative. Also, with regards to back-story, I would add around 3 sentences to each main point in your script to allow your audience to connect to the situation by sharing commonalities, even if they are really mundane. There has to be a connection. Does that make sense?

Best,
Rachel

 

[Seeking_Nirvana]

I've never watched Sex in the City mostly because I just don't watch that much television. I think that I understand about writing in the first person though.

I can't draw a stick figure. Would you be able to use clip art? Evie (batgirl) is very good at drawing maybe she would be willing to help you. I haven't seen her around lately so maybe you would ask her step mom, Kathy, if she is feeling well enough to contact her.

I will do some more thinking about this and give some feedback when I get something worth mentioning.

Also, Rachel makes a good point about letting the audience connect in some way. You would need different nationalities and a variety of people with different stereo types. For instance, one wouldn't think an upper class woman with a good job and up bringing would be a victim of incest or rape, but it happens.

Tammy